Airplane



',Dec. 16, 1930. F. A. DOYLE ET AL 1,785,114

AIRPLANE Filed Aug. l0. 1927 A TTORNE Y.

Patented Dem-16, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENToFI-ICE FRANVIS A. DOYLE AND GEORGE A. LYONS, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS f AIRPLANE Application filed August 1o, 1927. seal No. 212,022.

This invention relates to improvements in airplanes. An object of the invention is to provide a supplemental wing or plane for airplanes that is located below an extension of the upper wing. It is pivotally connected to the frame work of the machine in order to permit it to move freely in a vertical plane toward and away ,from the lower surface of the wing. rIhis supplemental plane, or wing, is pivotally connected vat its forward edge'portion, near to, and below the upper wing. y f

A further object of the inventionis to provide a supplemental plane that will prevent the machine from taking a nose dive, or, in other-words, rto leifectually retard the downward movement of the airplane when the engine is stopped. This retarding eifectis produced or brought about by restricting the flow of the airbetween the lower surface of the extended part ofthe wing vand the supplemental plane. The usual wing is formed with an extended rear portion andv below this portion the supplemental plane 1sy located. Without the use of the supplemental plane the extended portion of the wing would be useless as it would add just so much extra weight to the machine without assisting to any great extent in supporting the machine sincethe main supporting surface of the wing is at its forward edge portion. Further description of the operation ofthe supplemental plane will be set forth in the body of the specification. Although we have shown an airplane with two wings it is to be understood that preferably one wing only is employed.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational'view showing a portion of the car body broken awa and Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed View of the supplemental wing of plane and its operating mechanism.

Referring to the drawings in detail:

1 designates the body portion of the airplane, 2 the propeller, 3 the usual wheels for supporting the machine when on the ground. 4 and 5 are the upper and lower wings respectively of the machine. These wings are connected together by means of the vertical posts or'struts, 6 and 7. The post 8 rests on the cross beam 8. The supplemental wing or plane is indicated by the reference numeral 9 which wing7 as shown is substantially wedge shapel in cross connection, the forward edge 9 being of less thickness than' that of the rear portion 92." The usual-width of the wing 4 is indicated by the numeral 4. The rearor extended portion is indicated yby the reference* numeral 42. The width of 60 the supplementalwing V9 is the same as the width of the extension42 and is located directly below this rear extension, asshown. The lower surface V43 of the supplemental' wing is a curve which corresponds with the 35 curvature of the lower surface ofthe wing ,4. The forward edge of the wing-9 is4 pivotally connected to the post 6 as indicated at l0, which gives it a long leverage.Y 11, 12, 13 and 13" are pulleys that are located on the lower side of the wing 4 and near the forwardpost, and a part on the machine, as shown. 14 and 14 designate cables, one end of each of which is attached to the rear end of the wing 9 and the other end to the 75 lever 15. The lower end of this lever is pivotally connected to a support indicated at 16. The lever-15 is normallyfree to oscillate back andiforth as the wing 9 rises and falls, these positions beingindicated at Fig. l by the dotted lines, and reference numerals 93 and 94'. l/Vhen it is-desired to `retain the supplemental wing 9 in a fixed posiiion the lever 15 is thrown over into thedotted line position 15 and held'by a suitable ratchet connection 152. This Vwill retain the wingin the uppermost position.

The operation of the-supplemental wing may be described as follows: When the machine is moving directly forward through the air the position of the supplemental wing 9 is that shown in the full lines. The lever 15 is understood as being free to move. TheV stream of air now flows freely through the space between the lower side of the extended portion 42 and the upper side of the supplemental wing 9 Vand also freely below the wing 9. Shouldl the engine stop7 or the operator wish to land, the wing 9 is moved by the lever l5 from its full line position upward into the dotted line position 93, with the result that the passageway 17 between the rear lower surface of the extension 42 and the upper surface of the wing 9 is narrowed or closed. This causes a retarding effect on the speed of the machine either in a forward, gliding, or downward direction, thus preventing the nose-dive in falling, since its under surface is substantially the same as the under surface of the main wing 4 and its extension 42.

It is to be understood that we do not limit vfixed and a movable wing,

ourselves to the use of the second or lower wing 5, nor, to any particular shape of the supplemental wing 9. By placing the pivotal connection 10 of the wing 9 on the post 6 a long lever eect is produced for this wing.

18 designates a lever that is rigidly secured to the supplemental wing or plane 9. It is secured to this wing by means of the two bolts 19. The wing 9 therefore possesses a long lever action which materially assists in suporting the airplane.

It will therefore be seen that we have pro'- vided means for materially increasing the safety of an airplane of the monoplane type by confining the air between the supplemental wing 9 and the extension 42 since the area of the extension 42 is the same in area of the supplen'iental wing 9.

Y IVhat we claim is:

l. In an airplane comprising, in combination, a pair of supporting wings one of the wings being mounted for free, and unrestricted movement, either upward or downward, for creating an air pressure on either the upper or lower surface of said wing, and means for retaining the movable wing in a fixed position for retarding the motion of the airplane.

2. An airplane construction, comprising in combination, a fixed wing, a freely movable wing member having its rear end located immediately below the lower rear surface of the fixed wing for permitting the air to strike the upper surface of the movable member, whereby the flow of air is retarded through the machine and the motion of the machine lessened, and means for locking the movable wing member in a fixed position.

3. In combination, in a fiying machine having a fixed upper wing, a wedge shaped member having an/upper straight surface which is pivotally attached by means of an arm at its forward edge to the machine at a point below the forward edge of the upper fixed wing, to form a narrow passageway below the upper fixed wing, and means to adjust the wedge shaped member for causing a stream of air to pass along the upper straight surface of the wedge shaped niember and through the narrow passageway below the upper wing for retarding the motion of the machine, as described.

4. In a flying machine the combination with a fixed upper wing, a substantially wedge-shaped supplemental Wing, with a curved lower surface and pivotally attached to the machine, for permitting free up and down movement of the supplemental wing, the construction and arrangement being such that the motion of the machine is retarded when the supplemental wing is moved upward to form a narrow air passageway, between the two wings.

5. In a flying machine, the combination, a the fixed wing having an extension portion, the movable wing being located below the extension portion of the fixed wing and of the same area as the extension portion, a lever arm secured to the forward edge of the movable wing and extending forward and pivotally connected to the machine at a point below the forward edge of the fixed wing for materially assisting it supporting the machine.

6. In a fiying machine, the combination` a fixed wing, a freely movable wing formed with a lower curved surface and located below the rear end of the fixed wing, means for pivotally connecting the movable wing to the machine at a point distant from the forward edge of the movable wing to provide a long lever action of the movable wing, and devices for retaining the movable wing in a. fixed position relative to the fixed wing to confine or pocket the air between the two wings.

FRANCIS A. DOYLE. GEORGE A. LYONS. 

